The Vows We Break - Serena Akeroyd Page 0,73
telephone numbers before we left for Remo’s, and I’d given him the address where I was staying, but I hadn’t tried to call him, nor had he tried to call me.
Appearances matter at a time like this.
But I miss him. I’m scared he won’t return to me, and though I need him with all my heart, he needs me more. I fear for him, fear for what will happen if he doesn’t—
No. I can’t think like that.
So, hoping it’s him, I push the button and mutter, “Buongiorno?”
A flood of Italian sounds, but it isn’t Savio. Heart sinking, I recognize that it’s someone who’s come to clean the place.
She drops the name of the agency, so I let the woman in and hover by the door so I’m there when she knocks.
She shows me the message from the agency so I know to trust her, beams at me when I speak to her in Italian, and I tell her I’ll leave her to it before grabbing my computer and cellphone so I can try to write somewhere in a coffee shop.
I haven’t tried to write since I arrived, so it’s not like I can blame writer’s block on the computer.
More on my lack of desire to work.
As I slip the bag over my shoulder, I wave to the lady, let her know I’ll be back in an hour, and head on out.
The building’s set up oddly. The door leads directly onto a staircase, making me pity anyone who leaves the apartment drunk, then there is a landing before another set of stairs leads you down to another apartment.
When I make it to the landing, I see him.
And my heart?
God, it nearly explodes in my chest.
I hurl myself at him, not giving him a choice. I saw his anger with me in the hospital ward, had seen it and had known he was pissed at me, so I’m not about to let him dawdle.
He doesn’t though.
If anything, he moves his arms around me, hauling me into him, holding me harder than my ferocious hold on him.
Only when he whispers, “Are you okay?” do I realize he’s keeping this clandestine too.
No one can see us on the landing, it’s a private spot.
Maybe we’re being overcautious, but it doesn’t matter.
We have to be.
We’re involved in a conspiracy together, and I don’t intend on living the rest of my life in a jail cell. Nor do I intend for Savio to return to one either.
So I’ll be vigilant until we leave the country and can be open with our feelings once more.
“I’m fine now that you’re here. I wasn’t sure—”
“I was pissed at the hospital. Did you have to stab me?” he complains, making me laugh a little as he rubs his stomach.
“You looked innocent, didn’t you? Self-defense?”
He huffs. “I suppose.” Then his lips press against my cheek. “You didn’t notice.”
I pull back to frown. “Notice what?” My gaze drifts over his face and down to his throat, but I can see his lack of a dog collar.
I sigh with relief. “You quit?”
“Yes.”
His eyes are warm as they drift over me. “I missed you.”
He says the words hesitantly, softly, like he can’t believe he’s saying them.
I don’t take offense.
I know I’m the human equivalent of a whirlwind that’s busted into his life.
I can forgive him for being wary, especially since I did just stab him the other day.
“How’s your stomach?” I inquire, feeling dumb for not asking sooner.
“Fine. Someone’s aim was perfect or I’d still be in the hospital.”
His arched brow has me wrinkling my nose. “I researched it once.”
“Never practiced it though, right?” he says grumpily.
“First time’s the charm?” I quip.
“No more stabbings, hmm?”
“Agreed.” My lips twitch at his very masculine pout, and I reach up, press my fingers to his lips, and whisper, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he replies instantly, and my heart sinks through my body to hit the floor before bouncing back up again and beating me in the face.
“Really?” I ask softly, but my eyes are wet and he’s hard to see.
“You already knew that,” he chides, reaching up and rubbing a finger over my damp cheek.
“You didn’t come—I was scared.”
He shrugs. “I had to protect us. You aren’t the only protector here. Plus, I had things to do.”
“Like what?” I run my finger over his bare throat. “Like quitting?”
“That, as well as some issues I had with the Church. A final sermon, a farewell to the parishioners… Plus, I needed to see Paulo Lorenzo.” His jaw tenses.